Improvement in grain-driers



J.. GUARDIOLA. Improvement in Grain-Driers.

Patented May 7,1872.

2 Sheets--Shefn` 2. J. GUARDIOLA.

Improvement in Gran-Driers. N0. 126,455, Patented Ma 7,2?2.

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' umfat J fsa NITED STATES PATENT Cerros..a

i JOS GUARDIOLA, OFOHOGOLA, cENTRAL AMERICA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-DRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,455, dated May 7,1872.

Specification describing a new and Improved Apparatus forl Drying Grain,Coffee, Malt, and other substances, invented by JOS GUARDI- OLA, ot'Chocola, in the Republic of Guatemala, Centra-1 America.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my improveddrying apparatus.` Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, of thesame. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on a more enlarged scaleof the heating apparatusemployed in the drier, the line c c, Fig. 4,indicating the plane of section. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectionof the same on the line 7c k, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontalsection of the same on the line c k, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail verticaltransverse section of one of the evaporatiug and agitatin g cylindersemployed in the apparatus. Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal section ofone of the divisions within the cylinder.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new machine for artificially drying grain,coii'ee, malt, or other fruit, to prepare and tit the same forpreservation, transportation, or other purposes. It is more particularlyintended to supersede the common method of drying such articles bytheheat of the sun, and thereby materially to hasten the evaporation ofsurplus moisture. The invention consists in a new arrangement ofperforated rotary cylinders, containing central perforated hot-air tubesand radial winged partitions, to agitate the grain or substance to bedried in the compartments formed between the partitions, and meanwhileto expose the same to the iniiuence of the hot air which permeates theentire cylinders. By this arrangement the grain or coffee can beconducted with suitable rapidity and under constant lateral agitationthrough the heated compartments. The invention also consists in a newconstruction of furnace for heating the air to be conducted to theabove-mentioned cylinders, and in the combination therewith of a fan,whereby cold air will be forced through heatingpipe's within saidfurnace, and thence into conductors for transmission to thedrying-cylinders.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the frame ofthe drying-machine, made of wood,

metal, or other material. It serves as support for two inclinedperforated cylinders, B C, which are made of sheet metal or other propermaterial best adapted to the purposes for which the lnachine isintended. The cylinder B is directly above C, or at least so placed thatits lower end is entirely or nearly above the upper ond of C, where bothcylinders are connected by an immovable neck or conduit, a. Thecylinders B C are supported on small rollers b b, as indicated in Fig.2, said rollers having their supports in the frame A. By this means thecylinders can be readily revolved around their respective axes. Rotarymotion is imparted to the cylinders by a wormgear, d, working intotoothed wheels e e, which embrace the cylinders B U, in manner clearlyillustrated in Fig. l. Instead of this means of imparting motion to thecylinders, any other equivalent means may, however, be employed, such asbelts, cranks, or other devices. Each cylinder B C contains an innerperforated tube, E, and around the same radial partitions ff, whichextend from the perforated tube E to the perforated circumference g ofthe cylinders, as is more fully shown in Fig. 6. By means of thesepartitions fthe annular space around the tube E and within the shell gis divided into a number of segmental compartments, h h. From thepartition f project into the compartments h transverse plates t' t', allor some of which have wings j j at their terminations, said wingsprojecting alternately inward and outward, as is more fully indicated inFigs. 6 and 7. The partitions ff and their appendages extend from end toend of each cylinder. rlhe inner tubes E E of thc two cyliuders connect,respectively, with hot-air iiues land m that project from a heater, F.The coupling between the tubes E and the iiues l m is ot' such kind thatsaid tubes may revolve with the cylinders, with which they are rigidlyconnected, while said iiues remain immovable, being rigidly connectedwith the stationary heater F. The perforations through the tubes E andshells g should be smaller than the grains to be acted upon in order toprevent suchgrains from falling through their meshes. G is an elevatorcontaining an endless band, n, and buckets o o for raising the grain tobe dried. to the requisite height Jt'or conveyance to the drier. Aspout, p, extends from the upper part of the elevator into the upperopen end of the cylinder B. Another spout, r, extends downward from theupper part of the elevator to lead to a suitable receptacle. A valve, s,shown in Fig. 2, serves to open whichever of the two spouts p r is to beused, and to shut the other. From the lower Aend ofthe cylinder C aspout, t, leads into the lower part of the. elevator. H is a hopper,from which the grain is originally supplied to the elevator. This hopperfeeds into a vibrating shoe, u, which empties into a spout, yr, leadinginto the lower part ofthe elevator, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.Oscillating motion is imparted to the shoe u by contact with aneccentric on a revolving shaft, u', or by other means. The heatingapparatus F, of suitable size and shape, has a firechamber, x, Fig. 3,in which a tubular grate, y, is set up. The products of combustion passfrom this chamber x up in a vertical Hue, a2, and forward again in ahorizontal ne, b2, whence they escape through the smoke-pipe d2. Adamper, e2, in the latter regulates the rapidity of consumption. Theflue b2, it will be noticed, traverses a chamber, f2, which is directlyabove the fire-chamber x. A series of verticaltubes, g2, passes throughthe posterior part of the tire-chamber, and serves to connect thechamber j"2 with a cold-air supply-chamber, h2, underneath. A fan, I,supplies the cold air which is to be heated to the chamber h2, fromwhere such air ascends in the tubes g2, and enters the chamber f2thoroughly heated. The hot-air tlues l and m conduct the air from thechamber f2 to the inner tubes E of the cylinders B C, as hereinbeforespecified, and are provided with dampers i2, whereby the supply of hotair can be regulated. The tubular grate-bars serve to connect thechamber h2 with a front air-chamber, jl, whence pipes l2 extend up tothe chamberfz, as shown. Every opportunity is thus utilized of exposingthe air to the heat.

The operation is as follows: The grain, coffee, or other lnaterial to bedried is, from the hopper, conveyed to the lower part of the elevator,and thence to the upper end of the cylinder B. It is, within saidcylinder, distributed through the several segmental compartments and inthem gradually conveyed to the lower end of the cylinder, whence, in thestationary neck, it is passed to the lower cylinder C, and therein againagitated and moved along. While in the cylinders B U the grain isconstantly subjected to the induence ot' the heated air, which escapesthrough the apertures of the tubes E. Charged with the moistnre from thegrain such `heated air leaves the cylinders through the openin gs intheir shells. lf after having passed through the lower cylinder thegrain should not yct be in the desired condition, it may, being from thelower cyhn- C inder conveyed to the elevator, be recomm1tted to theupper cylinder, and once more passed through the machine, and as manytimes more as is necessary to make it as dry as required. When thedesired object has been fully attained, the grain is nally dischargedfrom the elevator through the spout 1'. The cylinders may be revolved asmuch as five or more times in a minute, orV slower, according to therequirements of each case.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The perforated cylinders B C, containing theperforated air-tubes E E and the parti tions and wings, substantially asherein shown and described.

2. The combination of the fan I and heater F with the pipes l m, tubesE, and rotary cylinders B C, all arranged substantially as herein shownand described.

3. The drying-machine, composed ot' the cylinders B C, tubes E, elevatorG,heater F, and fan I, all arranged to operate substantially as hereinshown and described.

The above specilcation of my invention signed by me this 22d day ofDecember, 1871.

JOS GUARDIOLA.

Witnesses:

LESLIE C. HANKs, HENRY SCHOLEIELD.

